April 2010 Table Hopping

Owner, Ernesto Peralta, his wife Jenifer Price,
and Chef Josh Eans make the best gourmet burgers in town at Blanc. Having
closed their Westport location, and opened a new one on the Plaza in addition
to the one out at Mission Farms, they plan to open more in KC and beyond. Try
their “Brunch Burger” that you must ask for by name. It’s a burger that can
only be ordered on the weekends, and is not found on the menu. A classic all
beef patty, rolled in finely ground coffee, then topped with a fried egg, bacon
and maple mustard on a brioche bun for $10. DRINK: any number of new beers recently added to
Blanc’s menu. Also look for cocktails featuring local company, Soda Vie,
naturally brewed sodas.

Recently relocated from the heart
of the City Market to Hospital Hill, Succotash’s owner, Beth
Barden, made the leap gracefully with wonderful new menu items, new staff and a
bigger place. You can still expect art and kitsch to meet in the middle, as
that is what gives this place its charm. Beth took everything off the old lunch
menu, except for two favorites, the BLT and Cobb Salad. Order the Cobb Salad
and see why it made the cut. Chock full of chicken, bacon, cheddar, blue
cheese, tomato, red onion, succotash, sundried tomatoes, olives and peas with
basil buttermilk dressing and a sunny side up egg on top for $9. KNOW: that Succotash has a great reputation as being a vegetarian
friendly place, and that is certainly true on the new menu.

Blue Grotto

6324
Brookside Plaza

Kansas
City, MO 64113

(816)
361-3473

www.bluegrottobrookside.com

Chef Chris Graham, with
partners John and Michelle
Greer, created a new world pizza shop and wine bar in Brookside with
Blue Grotto. Sit upstairs to truly be able to see your pizza being handmade and
fired in wood burning oven. Although, it’s not noted on their menu, kindly ask
for their most traditional Italian pizza, the “Marinara,” made with San Marzano
tomatoes, garlic and oregano and ask for them to “put an egg on it” for $10.
Enjoy crispy crust, the flavor of fresh tomatoes and a sunny side up egg that
you can break the yolk and start dipping your slice into. ORDER: the
Pizza Benedict, from their new brunch menu, made with prosciutto
cotto, poached egg and hollandaise sauce for $10 and continue to enjoy the
trend.

Happy
Gillis

549
Gillis Street

Kansas
City, MO 64106

(816)
471-3663

www.happysoupeater.com

Todd Schulte, owner of Happy Gillis, named his breakfast sandwich the
Keller-esque BLT after Chef Thomas Keller. Todd got the idea from watching the
outtakes from Adam Sandler’s movie “Spanglish,” which Thomas Keller consulted
on. Chef Keller taught Adam to make what in the movie is referred to as “the
world’s greatest sandwich.” Todd’s version of this sandwich starts with whole
grain toast, slathered with garlic aioli then topped with lettuce, roasted
tomato, crispy bacon and two eggs on top for $8. KEEP: it clean. The best
way to eat this sandwich is to pick it up and not set it back down until you
are done or it will fall apart on you. The delightful runny yolks will demand a
two napkins minimum. You’ve been warned.

Richard
Kim and his family, bought 70 year old Fran’s from Francis Deck, the original
owner, with an eye on expansion. Lucky for us, this piece of Toronto culinary
history has found it’s way into the Power & Light district for us to enjoy.
As the first 24/7 restaurant in the Power & Light, Fran’s
is still known as “the restaurant that never closes.” When you can’t decide
between waffles or bacon and eggs, get the best of both worlds with the
“Morning Glory.” Get one jumbo waffle, topped with 2 eggs cooked your way and 2
slices of bacon with caramelized apples and a splash of hot maple syrup for
around $10. BAR:
remains open at Fran’s until 3 am every night, so if you want to keep the party
going you can.